Everyone (except Sox) celebrating at Fenway
A nd on this, the 50th anniversary season of the first visiting team's celebration on the Fenway lawn, the Houston Astros became the latest team other than the Red Sox to pop champagne at America's Most Beloved Ballpark. That's right folks. Turns out the Red Sox lead the league in something after all: Watching the other guys pile on each other at 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA., 02215.
The Astros' clincher on Monday marked the 10th time a visiting team has clinched something on the hallowed lawn off Kenmore Square. It began in 1967 and continues its tradition today. Maybe next year the Sox could enlist Moet or Korbel as a new sponsor just to make things more convenient. A review: Oct. 12, 1967: Bob Gibson outduels Jim Lonborg and the Cardinals win the World Series at Fenway, 7-2.
Oct. 22, 1975: Yaz flies out to Cesar Geronimo and the Reds win Game 7 of the World Series, 4-3.
Oct. 2, 1978: Yaz pops up (notice a trend here?) to Graig Nettles and the Yankees, thanks to Bucky Dent, win the American League East.
Oct. 3, 1998: The Indians win the Division Series at Fenway, only to lose to the Yankees in the ALCS.
Oct. 18, 1999: The Yankees win the American League championship at Fenway behind El Duque Hernandez.
Oct. 1, 2005: The Yankees (noticing a trend here?) win the A.L. East title at Fenway.
Oct. 7, 2005: Just six days later, the White Sox celebrate at Fenway, too, clinching the ALDS.
Oct. 11, 2009: The Angels win the ALDS at the Fens, but later lose to the Yankees in the ALCS.
Oct. 10, 2016: The Indians, led by Terry Francona (why can't the Red Sox get managers like that?) pop the bubbly after winning the ALDS.
Oct. 9, 2017: The Astros, led by Josh Reddick (why can't the Red Sox get players like that?) enjoy themselves in the Fenway clubhouse after sending the Sox to the golf course.
That's 10 times. For the record: Visitors have celebrated at Yankee Stadium seven times since the old/new place was built in 1976. That gives the Sox a commanding 10-7 lead.
Some other thoughts on the baseball playoffs:
• What's with all the empty seats Monday at Fenway? At first pitch, Fenway looked like a UConn football game. Where have all the loyalists gone? Pink hats? Anybody?
• And you thought I couldn't admit to being wrong. Well, I have to take back every rotten thing I've ever said about the new Yankee Stadium.
It was always too wine and cheese for me. Until the playoffs of 2017. Place has been rocking. As my pal and ESPN broadcaster Bob Picozzi, in attendance Monday night said, "This place, finally, sounds like the original."
Turns out all Yankee fans needed was a good team.
• Carlos Beltran entered Fenway Park on Monday 10-for-27 lifetime against Boston starter Rick Porcello. He didn't start. Houston manager A.J. Hinch said he "liked the matchup better" between Porcello and the immortal Evan Gattis.
So let's see: Beltran, a career .325 hitter in the playoffs with 65 hits, a career .370 hitter off Porcello, doesn't play ... why?
Let me guess: Some sabermetrical geek found a differential equation unequivocally proving that Gattis was "the better matchup." Make it stop. • Note to Yankee fans: Lay off Joe Girardi. The guy is a good manager who made a bad mistake last Friday.
The piling on was typical, if not absurd.
Killing Girardi is like Giant fans who hammer Eli Manning. Is Eli the best quarterback in the NFL? Nope. But he's better than about 27 others. That counts. Same as Girardi. The best manager? No. But, you know, you could do a lot worse. And he's 3-0 in knockout games this season, entering Wednesday's game in Cleveland.
• Heard from the great John McDonald the other day (after his Indians won, of course).
Johnny Mac, alum of East Lyme High and UConn Avery Point, works in Player Development for the Indians. He's doing quite well (and the Indians appear to be developing quite a few really good players, by the way).
He called to make sure I was still alive after Friday's debacle. Thoughtful guy. Maybe I'll be calling him Thursday? This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro